"I suppose it's something that tells us that we will continue working for democracy in Singapore," Chee told AFP on Tuesday, May 6.

"It's not an award for me per se but for all the people who have struggled and paid a heavy price for championing democracy in Singapore. This award is an encouragement for all of us to continue working towards our goal," he said.

PGA, set up in 1978, links legislators around the world and has championed causes from fostering democracy to conflict prevention and management.

Among past recipients of the annual award are former South Korean president Kim Dae Jung in 2001 and Lakhdar Brahimi, special representative of the UN Secretary General for Afghanistan in 2002.

Chee has paid a series of fines and served brief prison terms in his fight against the ruling People's Action Party (PAP), which has dominated politics in Singapore since independence in 1965.

He was convicted of leading a Labour Day rally last year without a permit but is appealing the conviction.

Chee has also asked the Court of Appeal for more time to file an appeal with regards to a defamation suit filed against him by Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong and Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew.

The High Court last year rejected his appeal for a court trial in the defamation case and he was ordered to pay unspecified damages.

Singapore leaders have been criticised for regularly using defamation suits to silence critics.

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